Duplicating machine



March 14, 1933. J. J. FLANIGAN 1,901,440

DUPLI CATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1933. J. J. FLANIGAN 1,901,440

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1933. J. J. FLANlGAN DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J". FLANIGAN, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VIVID, INCORPORATED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DUPLICATIN G MACHINE Application filed September 11, 1931. Serial No. 562,245.

This is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 344,203, filed March 5, 1929, Patent No. 1,872,? 19, patented August 23, 1932.

This'invention relates to duplicating machines of the kind using a gelatinous surface in the form of a band on which an original imprint is first made and from which imprint a multiplicity of reproductions are taken. In machines of this kind the gelatin band is unwound from a supply roll, stretched over a bed plate to present portions of the surface thereof for printing operations, and it is then wound onto a take-up roll. For each new imprint, the band is advanced to bring a fresh portion thereof into impression position. As the band is used it is moistened and re-rolled and stored until the impression surface thereon is renewed or reconditioned to receive a fresh impression.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a duplicating machine wherein the gelatin band may be unwound from a supply roll at one end of the machine and moved across the bed to be rewound on a take-up roll at the other end of the machine.

Another object is to stretch the gelatin band extending between the supply and takeup rolls whereby this portion will be taut and will lie flat on the bed to expedite the printing or impression making operation;

A further object is to provide a duplicating machine which will be simple and durable in construction and reliable and efiicientin operation.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating selected embodiments of my invention Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on the line 22 on'Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of the front wheel and driving mechanism taken substantially on the line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse detail section taken substantially on the line 44 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another form of duplicating machine; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 66 on Fig. 5.

cross bars 2, and side plates 3 which enclose the upper portion of the main frame, these parts all being secured together to form a rigid light weight structure. The conveyor B is mounted in the frame below the bed plate and comprises two endless flexible metal bands arranged in parallel relation and spaced substantially the width of the frame. idler wheels or pulleys 5 carried by suitable shafts 6 journaled in the main frame. The wheels of one set of the upper wheels for the conveyor bands are keyed to the drive shaft 8 provided with peripheral teeth 9 engaging spaced openings in the conveyor bands for positively driving, and maintaining definite relation of, both conveyor bands. This driving means for the conveyor is operated by a hand wheel positioned just outside the frame. The shaft 8 is journaled in the side members 3 of the main frame and one end extends through the side member and carries the hub 11 which preferably has three handles 12 extending therefrom and equally spaced therearound so that one of the handles will always be in proper position to be grasped by the operator when it is desired to operate the conveyor, this arrangement providing the just referred to hand wheel.

The gelatine bands are arranged in a plurality of individual rolls 14 which are mounted on the conveyor to be successively brought into operative position by movement of the conveyor. The individual rolls of the gelatin bands are wound on spindles 15 spaced at equal intervals on the conveyor and their ends are mounted in suitable sleeve bearings 16 fastened on the conveyor bands. The spindles carry small gears 15 at corresponding ends thereof, which gears are adapted to These conveyor bands travel over mesh with the gear 45 located in operating position of the-rolls for driving the rolls as hereinafter described. Just beneath and inside of the upper edges of the side member 3 are brackets 17 bolted to the main frame and carrying pawls or latches 18 pivoted at 19 to their respective brackets. These latches are positioned in the path of the spindle bearings 16 on the conveyor bands and are yieldingly pressed downwardly by the springs 20 positioned beneath the latches and the top of the adjacent bracket. The latches are mounted in the main frame at the rear end of the bed plate C and determine the operat-' ingposition for the gelatin bands on the conveyor. The latches have in their lower edges V-shaped notches 21 which engage the spindle sleeve 16. Corresponding edges of the notches are sufliciently vertical to form stops for the spindle bearings to prevent the conveyor from being moved in a reverse direction and other corresponding edges are an-.

gled sufficiently to permit the sleeves to ride out of the notches and past the "latches and in this manner the conveyor is arranged for free movement in one direction. The operator can tell by the click of the latches when the conveyorhas been moved to have properly positioned a gelatin'band roll.

In the machine as illustrated, the free end of a gelatin band 14 of the particular roll, placed in operating position, is brought up over the rear end of the bed plate, forwardl over said bed plate to the front end thereo and then downwardly where ,it is connected to a permanent winding or take-up reel 26. The free end of the band is provided with a suitable device toengage a connecting member on the winding reel which is positioned at the extreme forward end of the main frame and below and beyond the end of the bed plate. This reel is preferably tubular and is mounted on a drive shaft 28 journaled in bearings 29 in the side members 3. The shaft has a hand wheel 30 fastened at one of its ends which extends outwardly of the main frame and on the operating wheel is a suitable crank handle 31. The reel is freely rotatable on the shaft 28 and is supported thereon by a hollow plug member 27 which has a bearing 32 keyed therein but free on the shaft. This bearing forms one'member of a clutch and is provided. with teeth 32 engageable by corresponding teeth 33 on one end of a clutch member 33. The clutch member 33 is mounted on the shaft to be slidable longitudinally thereof. Whenthe teeth .32 and 33' are engaged-and the hand wheel 30 is rotated, the gelatin band will be wound on the reel 26. The clutch member 33 is moved to engage and disengage the teeth 32 and 33' by a pin and slot connection with the shaft as" shown in Fig. 3. The shaft carries a pin 34 which operates in an angularly disposed slot 35 in the clutch member 33 to shift the clutch reoneeo member longitudinally of the shaft to the right in Fig. 3, when the shaft is rotated. Since the clutch membenis rotatable with the shaft it is provided with a suitable weight 36 tending to retard its rotation and thus insure relative movement between the clutch and the shaft member. Hence when the shaft is rotated in the direction to Wind the band, upon the reel, movement of the shaft causes the clutch member to so shift that the teeth 33 are engaged with the teeth 32 to connect the hand wheel and shaft, the bearing portion 32, and reel 36. Reverse rotation of the shaft will so shift the clutch member that the teeth 33 will be disengaged from the teeth 32' to thereby release the reel so that it will be free to rotate in the reverse direction when the gelatin band is rewound upon the supply spindle at the rear of the machine. A bevel gear 37 *is loosely mounted on the drive shaft adjacent the bearing 29 and the hub thereof extends to the end of the reel and is provided with teeth 38 adapted for cooperation with corresponding teeth 39 on the end of the clutch member 33 opposite the teeth 33'. Thus, when the hand wheel 30 and drive shaft are rotated in a direction opposite to that above described, the teeth 38 and 39 are engaged whereby the bevel gear 37 will be rotated. The bevel gear 37 meshes with a bevel gear 40 keyed to the shaft 41 journaled in a bearing 42 in the bearing member 29, the opposite end of the shaft being j ournaled in a suitable bearing carried by the main frame. The shaft 41 has a bevel gear 43 thereon and this bevel gear 43 meshes with a bevel gear 44 on the shaft 44' carrying gear 45 which meshes with the gear 15 on the spindle disposed at operating position to thus establish driving connection between the shaft 41 and the spindle of the roll located at operating position. Thus, when the wheel 30 and the drive shaft 28 are rotated in a direction opposite to that previously described and the teeth 38 and 39 are engaged to thereby bring about rotation of the gear 37 gear 40, and shaft 41, it is manifest that the gela'tin band may be unwound from the reel 26 to the spindle of the roll located at operative position to thereby rewind the gelatin band upon said roll.

'nected to and drives the shaft 41 and the gears 40 and 37 at the forward end of the machine, but these are also free to rotate since the clutch member 33 is at this time in the position which connects the reel to the drive shaft.

It is desirable to stretch the band taut upon the bed plate and to lock the roll and reel against rotation so as to eliminate any danger of disturbing the hand during the printing operation. For the purpose of holding the roll against rotation I provide a brake on the shaft 41 adjacent its forward end. .This brake consists of a drum 5O keyed on the shaft and a brake band 51 adapted to grip the drum and hold the shaft, against rotation. As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the brake band surrounds the drum 50 and its end portions 52 are turned upwardly in substantially parallel relation. A shaft member 53 is mounted in bearings 54 in the frame member 3 and extends through transverse holes in the brake band ends 52. This shaft carries a pin 55 which acts on a. beveled cam block 56 adjacent one of the ends 52 of the brake band. The shaft has a collar 57 to hold the other member 52 of the brake band. The rotation ofthis shaft operating on the cam 56 forces the two ends 52 of the band towards each other and causes the band to grip the brake drum. A suitable hand lever 58 on the outside of the main frame is provided for the operator. A coil spring 53 is anchored at one end to the frame, and its other end has a loop through which the shaft 53 passes, the tension on the spring being sufficient to frictionally hold the shaft in the position to which it is rotated. The inner end of the shaft 53 has a pawl 59 pivotally mounted thereon and the end of this pawl engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 60 on the end of the reel 26. lVhen the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet wheel the reel will be looked against reverse rotation. After the operator has wound a fresh portion of the gelatin band into impression position on the bed he throws the hand lever 58 upwardly and operates the brake to lock the shaft 41. This looks the roll against further rotation. The winding reel at the forward end, however, is still free to continue turning in a winding direction and the operator may thereby apply whatever tension on the band he desires for the printing or impression operation. The ratchet will hold this tension by preventing reverse movement of the reel. The pawl 59 is moved into and out of engagement with the ratchet by means of a pin 61 on the end of the brake shaft. This pin engages a pin 62 carried by the pawl itself. It is preferable to relieve the tension upon the band first, and thereby relieve any binding action on the pawl, before the pawl is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet. For this reason the pin 61 is so positioned on the shaft that it will not engage the pin 62 until the brake band opens and releases the shaft 41. The tension on the gelatin band will then slightly rotate the roll and shaft 41 until the tension is relieved and the parts are free. Further movement of the hand lever 58 will then lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet and restore the parts to condition where the winding reel may again be operated to wind a fresh portion of the band intoimpression position.

After the band has been directed across the bed and made taut in the manner described, a sheet bearing original copy is impressed upon the portion of the gelatin band disposed above the bed C and after this original impression has been applied to the band this original sheet is removed. Successive sheets are then applied to the band by the platen carriage D in the manner common in machines of this character whereby the impressions on the gelatin band will be transferred onto these sheets. After suflicie-nt impressions have been made from the impression on the band and the brake device are released and the winding devices are operated to wind the used portion of the band upon the reel and thus a fresh portion of the band is positioned above the impression bed whereupon the brake devices are again operated to tighten the band.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is adapted to be used with a duplicating machine of the kind disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 565,283, filed September 26, 1931. No winding reel is provided in this machine but a spindle such as that carrying the gelatin band rolls 14 is mounted at the forward end of the machine and such a spindle may be one of the kind disclosed in the patent to Edward E. McNally, No. 1,742,270, patented January 7, 1930. The free end of the band is suitably connected to this spindle. This form of winding device is mounted in a housing 65 secured to the side of the machine M and journaled in this housing at opposite ends thereof are transversely extending shafts 66 and '67 which have attaching arrangements at the inner ends thereof to which the spindles at the front and rear of the machine may be secured, the opposite ends of these spindles being mounted in the manner well understood in the art. Associated with the shafts 66 is a rotatable member 68 and said shaft extends through this rotatab le member, the rotatable member being adapted for engagement with the adjacent end of the spindle having a portion disposed in the attaching arrangement in the end of the shaft 66. The end of the rotatable member 68 opposite the end adapted to be engaged with the spindle has teeth 69 provided thereon. Mounted on the shaft 68 is a clutch member 70 having a slot 71 therein in which a pin 72 fast on the shaft 66 is disposed. At one end of the clutch member 70 are teeth 7 3 and when the hand Wheel 74 fast -on the shaft ,66 is turned to wind the gelatin band onto the spindle connected to-the shaft 66, the interaction between the pin 72 and slot 71 moves the clutch member 70 along 5 shaft 66 to engage the teeth 73 with the teeth 69. When the hand wheel 74 is rotated in the opposite direction, the interaction between the slot 71 and the pin 72 moves the clutch member 70 along the shaft 66 to engage the teeth 75 thereon, lo cated at the end opposite the end carrying the teeth 7 3, with the teeth 76 on the hub of the bevel gear 77. In so. moving, the clutch member passes'through an intermediate posi- 1 tion wherein the teeth at both ends thereof are free of the teeth cooperating therewith. The bevel gear 77 meshes with a bevel gear 78 fast on a shaft'7 9 which extends longitudinally of the housing and which is journaled in bearings 80, 80 in said housing. On

the end of the shaft 79 opposite that carrying the bevel gear-78 is a bevel gear 81 meshing with a. bevel gear 82 fast on the shaft 67. On the shaft 67 is a connecting member 83 which is adapted to cooperate with the spindle connected in the attaching devices at theend of the shaft 67. Therefore, when the hand wheel 74 is rotated in the direction last described, movement willbe transmitted from i so shaft 66, clutch member 70, teeth 75, teeth 76,

bevel gear 7 7 ,Jbevel gear 78, shaft 79, bevel gear. 8 1, bevelgear 82, connecting device 83 to wmd the band onto the'roll on the spindle connected to the shaft 67. Y

The winding device just described is one adapted for use with a duplicating machine not equipped with a conveyor. The winding device first described is one adapted for use with a duplicating machine equipped with a 40 conveyor and it is manifest that either of the 7 two winding devices willfunction to wind the gelatin band from one of the rolls at one end of the machine" to the roll at the other end of the machine /The brake device de- I scribed in connection with the first of the windingdevices may be used with the second of the winding devices so that the band'may be drawn taut across the bed of-the duplicating machine.

While I have illustrated and described Se.

lectd embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be 'limited to the precise details set V forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Iclaim: i 1. The combination of a frame having a bed, a windingreel at one end of said bed an operating member for said reel and aligned therewith, a gelatin band in a roll at the other end of the bed and stretched over the bed and connected to the reel, a shaft connected to said roll and extending. to said the operating member at an angle thereto, and means for operatively connecting said operating member to or disconnecting it from the shaft or the reel.

2. The combination of a frame, a bed, a reel at oneend of said bed, a gelatin band in a roll at the other end of the bed and stretched over said bed and connected to said reel, an operating crank shaft axially aligned with said reel, a rewind shaft connected to'said roll, a gear loose on the crank shaft and connected to said rewind shaft, and means for connecting the crank shaft to or disconnecting it from either the reel or the gear.

3. The combination of a frame, a bed, a reel-at one end of said bed, a gelatin band in a roll at the other end of the bed and extended over said bed and connected to said reel, an operating crank shaft, a rewind shaft connected to said roll, a gearloose on the crank shaft and connected to said rewind shaft, means for connecting the crank shaft to or disconnecting it from either the reel or the gear, means for locking the reel against rotation in one direction, and means operating in advance of the locking operation for holding the roll against rotation.

4. The combination of a frame, a bed, a

reel at each end of the bed, a gelatin band extending over the bed and adapted to be wound upon one or the other of said reels, driving mechanism for both reels and aligned with one of the reels, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said driving mechanism with respect to said reels, and means for holding one of said reels against rotation when the other is connected to the driving mechanism.

5. The combination of a frame having a bed, a reel at each end of said bed, a gelatin band stretched over said bed plate and adapted to be wound upon one or the other of said reels, a driving mechanism aligned with one ing from said driving mechanism to said other reel, and a clutch operated by said driving mechanism for connecting the driving mechanism with or disconnecting it from either the reel or said shaft. A I

7. The-combination of a frame having a bed, a reel at each end of the bed, a gelatin band stretched over said bed and adapted to be wound from one to the other of said reels, a driving mechanism associated with one of said reels, a shaft extending from said driving mechanism to said other reel, a. clutch operated by said driving mechanism for connecting the driving mechanism with or disconnecting it from the reel or the shaft, a brake for the shaft, and manual means for operating said brake to hold the shaft against rotation when it is disconnected from the drive mechanism.

8. The combination of a frame having a bed, a reel at each end of said bed, a gelatin band stretched over the bed and adapted to be wound from one to the other of said reels, a drive shaft supporting one of said reels, a gear on said shaft, a shaft extending from said drive shaft to the other reel for driving said other reel, and a clutch for connecting either said reel or said gear to the drive shaft.

9. The combination of a frame having a bed, a reel at each end of said bed, a gelatin band stretched over the bed and adapted to be wound from one to the other of said reels, a drive shaft supporting one of said reels, a gear on said drive shaft, a shaft extending from said drive shaft to the other reel for driving said other reel, and a clutch actuated by rotation of said drive shaft for connecting either said reel or said gear to the drive shaft.

10. The combination of a frame having a bed, a reel at each end of said bed, a gelatin band stretched over the bed and adapted to be wound from one to the other of said reels, a drive shaft supporting one of said reels, a gear on said drive shaft, a shaft extending from said drive shaft to the other reel for driving said other reel, a brake on said extending shaft, and hand operated means for operating said brake to hold the shaft against rotation.

11. In a duplicating machine, a frame having a bed thereon, winding means at each end of said bed whereby a gelatin band stretched over said bed may be wound onto one of said winding means as it is unwound from the other of said winding means, operating means at the front of the machine and aligned with one of said winding means, and means,

associated with said operating means for alternately connecting said winding means to said operating means as said operating means is moved in opposite directions.

12. In a duplicating machine,a frame having a bed thereon, winding means at each end of said bed whereby a gelatin band stretched over said bed may be wound onto one of said winding means as it is unwound from the other of said winding means, an operating shaft aligned with one of said winding means, a clutch member on said operating shaft and actuated thereby and functioning as said operating shaft is moved in opposite directions to alternately connect the winding means at opposite ends of said bed with said operating shaft to thereby wind the gelatin band on the winding means connected to said operating means.

13. In a duplicating machine, 'a frame having a bed thereon, winding means at the front of said bed, a shaft aligned with said winding means, winding means at the rear of said bed whereby a gelatin band may be stretched across said bed between said winding means to be wound on one of said winding means as it is unwound from the other of said winding means, an operating handle connected to said shaft, and a clutch on said shaft and operable to connect the winding means at the front of the machine with said shaft as said operating handle is moved in one direction and operable to connect the winding means at the rear end of said bed with said shaft and to release the winding means at the front of said machine from said shaft when said operating handle is moved in the opposite direction.

14. In a duplicating machine, a frame having a bed thereon, winding means at the front end of said bed, a shaft associated with said winding means, winding means at the rear end of said bed, a longitudinally extending shaft for connecting the winding means at the rear end of said bed with operating device on said first-named shaft, an operating handle on said first-named shaft, and clutch means on said first-named shaft and operable when said operating handle is moved in one direction to connect said first-named shaft with the winding means at the front of the machine and operable when said operating handle is moved in the opposite direction to connect said operating device with said longitudinal shaft whereby the winding devices at the rear of said bed will be operated.

15. The combination of a frame, a bed, a winding reel at one end of said bed, a gelatin band roll at the other end of said bed, the band of said roll being adapted to be stretched over the bed and connected to said reel, driving means aligned with the winding reel for operating said reel to wind the band thereon, a shaft extending to said roll and operated by said driving means to rewind the band on said roll, and means for holding said shaft against movement whereby ng band may be stretched taut across said 16. In a duplicating machine, a frame having a bed thereon, windingmeans at each end of said bed whereby agelatin band stretched over said bed may be wound onto one of said winding means as it is unwound from the other of said winding means, operating means at the front of the machine for operating said winding means, means on said operating means for alternately connecting said winding means to said operating means as said operating means is moved in opposite directions, and means for holding one of said winding means against movement whereby Isaid band may be stretched taut across said 17. In a duplicating machine, a framehav- I ing a bed thereon, winding means at each end of said bed whereby a gelatin band stretched over said bed may be wound onto one of said winding means as it is unwound from the other of said winding means, operating means, a clutch actuated by said operating means and functioning as said operating means is moved in opposite directions to alternately connect the winding means at 0pposite ends of said bed with said operating means to thereby wind the gelatin band on the winding means connected to said operating means, and a brake device operable on both of said winding devices to hold said winding devices against movement whereby the gelatin band-may be stretched taut across said bed.

18. In a duplicating machine, a frame having a bed thereon, winding means at the front end of said bed, a shaft associated with said windingmeans, winding means at the rear end of said bed, a longitudinally extending shaft for connecting the winding means at the rear end of said bed with operating device on said first-named shaft, an operating handle on said first-named shaft, clutch means on said first-named shaft and operable when said operating handle is moved in one direction to connect said first-named shaft with the winding means at the front of the machine and operable when said operating handie is moved in the opposite direction to connect said operating device with said longitudinal shaft whereby the winding devices at the rear of said bedwill be operated, common holding means operable on both ofsaid winding devices for holding said windin devices against movement whereby said gefittin 'band may be stretched taut across said bed,

and common means for operating said holding means.

19. The combination of a frame having a bed, a winding reel mounted at one end of said bed, a supply roll mounted at the opp0- site end of the bed and having a band wound thereon adapted to be withdrawn therefrom and stretched over the bed and connected to said reel, a shaftadjacent one side of the frame, means for connecting said shaft to said bed, a winding means mounted at the opposite end of the bed and having a band wound thereon adapted to be withdrawn therefrom and stretched over the bed and connected to. the first-named winding means a shaft adjacent one side of the frame and extending substantially at right angles to said winding means, means connecting said shaft to the second-named winding means, operating means, means for connecting said operating means to the first-named winding means, said operating means being movable in one direction to rotate 'said shaft and the second-named winding means without dr1ving the first-named winding means and being movable in the other direction to rotate said first-named winding means without v driving'said second-named winding means,

and locking means for said winding means c said roll, operating means, means for conwithout driving said reel and being movable necting said operatmg means to said reel, said operating means being movable in one direction to rotate said shaft and said roll in the other direction to rotate said reel without driving said roll, means for looking said reel against rotation in one direction, and means operatively associated with the means for locking the reel and adapted to hold the roll against rotation.

20. The combination of a frame having a bed, a winding means mounted at one end of 

